Station-indicator.



EJSBJ'TG,

R. M. CRANE.

STA'HON lNDiCATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12.15am.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. M. CRAIG.

STATION WDICATOB.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. H. 1914.

i,168,170; Patented $5111.11, 1916.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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ALPHA s17 BETA 5T onscaa er AQAMS SI BRYANT 5T R. M. CRAIG.

STATION INDICATOR.

latentsd Jan. 11, 1916.

APPLICATION FI LED MAR. 17, 1914.

,4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1 Crag? R'. M. CRAIG.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. III 1914.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 4.

STATIGN-EIIDIQLTQR.

gecfceticnpf as 1:1, n}; Application filed March 1?, 191% Serial 370. $25,382.

useful Improvements in Station-lndicators v of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of indicators designed to be mounted Within a street car and to display to the passengers the names of the streets passed by the car, and more particularly to certain unprovements on the station indicator, illustrated;

and described in my pending application for electrical indicator for street cars, Serial No. 54:1,303', filed February '7, 1910. and patent on switch operating mechanism for electric railways, No. 1,140,579, dated May 25, 1915.

One object my invention is to provide a streetcar indicator including a band containing street names which hand may also and preferably does contain advertisements, and means for electrically operating or shifting the hand at suitable distances along the route. for instance at the corner of each street, tne operation of shifting the band being entirely automatic and not dependent upon manual actuation.

ri furthcr object of the inven i is "to provide means for automatically reversing the hand at the end a route or any predetermined section of a route, and in this connection to provide means whereby the band 111a}; be manually reversed when de sired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a street car indicating mechanism wherein the band containing the street names will not only be automatically shifted as above described, but wherein the band will also automatically throw switches as the car approaches a sivitclrwithout the motorman or conductor having to operate the switch.

Another object of the invention to so form the band carrying: the street names that it can with equal facility be used either on a straight line, loop line, on a diverse route, or on all or these forms of lines.

Still. another object is to so construct the indicating mechanism that it ma; be operated on a: trolley system, third rail system, middle rail system, or Where undergroundconduits are used.

the interference or an operator in order to.

perform. its proper functions till another object is to provide electrical actuating mechanism, switch shifting mech anism, reversing mechanism, all controlled by electrical contacts placed upon the hand. A further object is the provision of a belt having alternate spaces for successive streets, the other alternate set of spaces being used for successive streets after the belt has reversed and travels in the opposite direction. r

S illanother object is to support all ofthe actuating: mechanism shifting the band and v actuated by the shifting of the band, so conrd-n 1 n IL obillClfid that it is contained Wlblllll a case, this being adapted to he slipped into or out. of a compartment formed in the car for the and having electrical contacts lead- 121;: to the iced Wires for the supply of elec trical current.

Still another object of the. invention is to support the band by means of spools or reels and provide mechanism whereby when one spool is driven to carry the band in one direction. the other spool shall run free.

A further object of 'the invention is to provide for positively stopping the band with each name clearly in front of the opening through which the street name or advertisement is to be displayed.

A further object is to provide means for sending a momentary cu rent from a feed Wire to thereby close a circuit through the belt operating motor.

Other objects 'will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure s a top plan View partly in section. F 1g. 2 18 a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View partly diagrammatic showing the manner of electrically energizing the motor and reversing themotor. Fig. 4 is a fragn'ientary perspec tive underside view of a portion of the controlling and advertising belt and the fingers or contacts whereby the various electrical circuits are closed. Fig. is a frag- -.mentary perspective view .of the circuit breaking contacts and the reversing lever.

' Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical connections from the several contacts, through the motor. the actuating solenoids and-the switch actuating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary face view of v one of the name displaying hands. Fig. 8 is a map showing the layout of the route corresponding to the routeindicated by the names on the band shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary face new of a band hav ing a route divided mto three sectlons and indicated thereon. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view showing the arrangement of the trolley contacts and trolleys. Flg. 11 1s a fragmentary detail elevation of a mod fied form of trolley ,wire contacts and trolley contacts. Fig. 12 is a sectional view show ing a modifiedform of belt.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description. and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters. Referringnow to Figs. 1 and 2, 2 designates a cas ngof metal, wood or any other suitable material adapted to be disposed in a suitable position within a car and adapted to aline with a frontopening 3 formed in a box or other suitable housing which may 5 and at its ends is connected to the reels w or spools 6 and 7, each mounted on a vertically disposed spindle. The band A is conducted to and from these reels or spools 6 and 7 by means'of rollers 8 disposed one on motor 9 of any suitable form, the shaft of this motor being formed with a worm 10- each side ofthe display opening. Thereels 6 and 7 are operated by means of anelectric engaging with aworm wheel 11 mounted upon a shiftable shaft 12. As illustrated,

this shaft 12 at its middle portion is many sided and the opening in the gear wheel 11 isalso many sided sov that while the shaft can slide relative to the gear wheel 11, rotative movement communicated to the gear wheel will rotate thesha'ft. The wheel 11 is It will be understood that the front supported in suitable bearings mounted on brackets 13. I 1 f Disposed adjacentone end of the shaft 12 is a short shaft 11 carrying upon it a sprocket wheel 15 over which a sprocket chain 16 passes to the spindle of the reel 7, and mounted upon the adjacent end of "the shaft12 is a bevel gear wheel 17 adapted to mesh with a bevel gear wheel 18 carried upon the shaft let when the shaft 12 is in one of its shifted positions. Mounted adjacent, the other end of theshaft 12 shaft 19 carrying at one end a sprocket wheel 20 over whichpasses a sprocket chain 21. to the spindle of the reel 1'. This shaft 19 also carries upoirit a bevel gear wheel 22. with which a bevelgear wheel 23'1nountedupon the shaft 12 engages.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that when the shaft 12 is shifted 't Q-E ward the right in Fig. l, the gear wheel 17: will engage with the gear wheel 18 and. the reel 7 Will be rotated to wind up the band -6,- and that when the shaft 12 is shifted in a reverse direction or toward the left in Fig 1, the gear 23 will engage withthe gear wheel 22*while the gear wheel 17 will be shifted out of engagement with 'thegear wheel 18, and that under these circum-- stances the reel 7 will run idle while the reel 6 will 'be positively rotated to wind up,t heg film upon the reel. For .the purpose of automatically shiftmg the shaft 12 into oneor the other'fof the positions above referred to inorder to r e -f verse the movement of the band A51 to .vide the revers ng lever 24 as shown inig.'.'f.'

1, this reversing lever being pivoted 'at'25' on any suitable support-and being slotted 'at its end adjacent the shaft '12 as at 26.

The shaft 12 has projecting from itapin 27 which engages through the slot in the lever. 24. The outer end of the lever 24 is slotted as at 28, and passing through this slot is a pin 29 projecting upward from the core 30 of a pair of solenoids. One of.

the solenoids is designated 31 and the other 32. When one of these solenoids is actuated asfor instance the solenoid 31, the

outer end of the lever will be drawn to the left in Fig. 1 and the shaft 12 will be shiftedto' the right. When, however, the other solenoid 32 is actuated, a reverse movement will occurv and theshaft will be shifted so as to operatively connect the reel G with the.

driving mechanisms, As illustrated in Fig.

6, the two solenoids are each connected by' Y meansof'a wire 33 to a common conductor 34 WlllCll connects to a lead wire3a,..svhich,;

in turn engages a small shoe or tfolle y wheel 36 adapted to take current froni'thei trolley wire'or a third railat regular in- 1 tervals as for instance at street crossings in the manner illustrated in. myi prior application, Serial- N o. 541,307,'beforereferred to. Currentis directed through vone orthe.

acljnstinentof track switches, the belt A as ping the motor on a. travel of the band in other of these solenoids 31 or 32 by means of the band A as will be later described. Current is carried to the motor 9 by a leaCl wire 41 (see Fig. 6) and connections clisposed in circuit between said lead Wire and the motor 9 as 'will be later described.

For the purposc of causing a reversal of the lever 2% and for causing an intermittent energizing or" the motor 9, and the stopping of said motor, and also for causing; the

illustrated most clearly in Fig. i is preferably stormed with a plurality of openings 38 and this band or belt A passes between a common contact bar 39 and a plurality of fingers 40, 4:0, 40 40 40 and 10 corresponding in number to the number of the openings The openings in the belt are designated respectively 38 38 38", 38, and, 38 corresponcli to the fingers before while 1' l J. trateil all of these openings as heing arranged in line witheach other, it is to be understood that this is simply for clearness of illustration and to show the position of the openings relative to each other and to the fingers. As a matter or fact, however, the e openings will be arranged out of transverse alinement with each other as indicated most clearly in Fig. '7. The openings 38 and 38 are for the purpose of opening and closing a switch respectively. The openings 38 and 38 are for thepurpose of stopping the motor upon the travel of the hanil in one direction and for stop- 0 T i mentioned. b n l have illusthe other direction. The openings 38 Hill 38 are rcsiwctivcly for reversing the movement of the belt when the belt is initially moving rlou'nnarrl and for reversing the movement oi the bell, when the. belt is initially traveling upward. All of the openings l aiul 3 and all, of the openings 33 and 3B arc arranged in vertical alincinentwith each other as seen clearly in Fig. 7.

One side oi" tiic'iuotor is connected by means of a wire a to the general car circuit and the other is of the motor is connected by means oi the Wires anil 43 to a contact ll. Coat-ting with this contact 4% is a movable contact member 45 which pivoted at one curl as at 46 and normally held from engagement with the contact ll. by means of a spring 47. This contact 45 has a plunger 4% which operates Within a solenoid 45). This solenoid i operativcly connected on onesiclc to a ground by a Wire 50 and on its other side is clect-ricallv connected through a wire 5". and a movable contact switch to the feed Wire 37. Thus when a circuit through the solenoid 49 is completed, the contact member 45 will be drawn inward against the contact a l. This contact to is connected by means of a wire 53 and through a. resistance at to the genoral car circuit. When the solenoid 49 is energized and the contact l5 drawn. into engagement with the contact 24:, current will no, from "1e general car circuit through motor 9 by Way of Wire to the contact 4:5 thence through contact and back by the wires 43, 4'2 and 41 and the motor will. be operated.

For the purpose of holding the contact 45 in position against the contact 44, I provide a latch 55 pivoted at its rear end, this latch forming an armature coacting with the two electro-niagnets 56 and 56 When either one of these electro-magnets is energized, the latch 55 will he raised and the contact member 45 will be drawn out of its engagement with the contact i These magnets 56 and 56* are both connected to a return wire 5'? which leads to a Wire 58,

which in turn leads to a l cal battery 59 and connects to the common contact nieinher 39.

The magnet 56 is connected by means ot coacts with a metallic contact member 62 from which a wire 63 leads to the contact finger O corresponding with the opening 38 in the band. Thus when this'opening 38 reaches the contact bar 39. the finger 40 will" spring into contact with the contact member 39 and the circuit will be completed and thus the magnet 56 will be energized, the magnet 56 remaining (leiinergizerl, however. The interruption in the circuit between the contactmember (51 and the con tact member (52 is closed by means of a bridge contact 4 mounted upon the lever ill as shown in Fig. When the lever 24 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, this portion of the circuit through the magnet 5-4; is closcil. When. however, the lever 24 has been shift-ell over to revu'sc the moveient of the band by the action of the, sole- HOlfl 3:4. then the circuit. through the mag net 36 is broken for a purpose to be later stated.

The magnet 56 is connected by means of a Wire 5 to a contact member (36 which coacts with a contact member 67 spaced tron'i the contact member co and conn ted by iucansot' the wire 8 to the finger all)" which com-ts with the. perforation 38* in the l):\ll(l. lv'hen the band is moving upuaril, the lever El will be in the position shown in Fig. (3. is a conseipiencc, the circuit torough the magnet 56 will be broken at (so aiul (37 but the circuit through the magnet 56 will be bridged at 3 and ($1., A's a conseipicuce when the band has moved sufiiciently to bring the perforation SR opposite the linger ell)"; a circuit will be (IlOSQll from the local battery 59 through wires 58 to the finger 4 0, thence'through the per,-

' foration 38 in the belt to thecommon contact bar 39 and thence back by wire 58 to I I c l r the manner heretofore stated. When the the battery '59, thus causin the magnet'56 to be momentarily energize The energizing of this magnet 56 will cause-the latch to rise, releasing the Contact member 45 and breaking the car circuit through .the

* motor thus causing a stoppage of the motor until the solenoid 49 is again energized in hand is moving downward, however, exactly the 'same 'OPQBHAUOIIVOCCUIS except that in 'th'isacase the lever 24 is reverse-from'the position shown" in Fig. 6. The contactmemher 64* bridges the interruption 66 and 67 the wires'34, and 33 to the trolley contact I I coacting which s pivoted at, 78 an l and in this case when the perfoi'ation38" reaches the finger 109, a circuit will be closed from the local battery 59 through the magnet 5W" which will cause the lifting of the latch 55 andthe breaking of the car circuit through the motor.

For the purpose .of reversing the lever Q-l automatically at the end of a route or at any desired point so as to reverse the movement of the hand, I provide. the'two contact fingers 40 and 40, coacting respectively with the'openings 38 and 38 in the hand For the purpose of energizing one or the other of the solenoids 31 and 32 I connect both of the solenoids by means of 36.- The solenoid 32 is connected" by means of the wire 69 to a contact point 70 normally out of electrical engagement with a pivoted switch bar 71. This bar is' pivoted at 72 and its outer end is, drawn downward by means of, a spring 73. The bar 71 at its pivotal point is connected by means of the wire 7+ to the wire 37 and thence returns to the trolley'contact 36*. If the; switch contact 71 is in electrical engagement with the contact 7 0, current will thus assfrom thetrolley contact 36 by way 0 wires 37 out of electrical engagement connects to the wire 7 4 and tromthen'ce the currentpass'es: by wire 37 to the trolley'contact 36"; Thus when the switch contact 77 is electrically connected'to the .contact76, a .circuit will be completed through the j, solenoid 31 to, energize this solenoid. Nor

mally both of the switch contacts 71 and 77 are out of electrical engagement with the .means of the wire 80--to a trated clearly in Fig. i in the position shown in Fig. 6. Under perforation 38 thence back to the battery, "magnets and drawing down upon the across the. bridge piece 83 to held normally withthe contacts 76 by'the spring, 79. From the pivotal center of this bar'rextencls a 97 while the solenoid9 t. wire 74 which actuating the switch,

contacts and 76 respectively landXt-herenoids '31. "and32is broken. g.

. fore the :.circuits through both of 'the sol e 1 The: contact finger 40. is "connected by conta'et member 81 which coacts with a contact member 82, the gap between these two contact members being completed by the bridging contact member 83 carried by theileverfl as illusi I a when the lever is these circumstances when'a comes beneath the finger 40, a' circuit is closed from the battery 59by .wire158, bar 39, contact finger 40, wire 80f,f thence through contact' members 81,- 83 and '82 to wire 84, through the .electro-magnets 85,

thence by wire 86 to theretu rn'wire- 58 energizing the switch bar 71 ."v This closes the circuit through the solenoid 32 and this solenoid being. energized will shift the lever,"24: toward the right in Fig. 6. This will? reverse the motion of the band as previously described and whereas the band was -previously.

moving downward, or in one direction, it

will now be reversed inits. movement and W111 move upward or in theother directlon.

When it has traveled in this last named direction as far as predetermined, a'perforation 38" will come. beneath the finger 40 and a circuit will-be closed from the battery 59, wire 58, contact bar 39, finger 40 to wire 87 thence by wire 87' to the contact-member 88, contact '89 thence by wire 90to the electro-Inagnet 91,

' thence by wire 92 to the return wire 58 andback to the battery, thus energizing the magnet 91 drawing 'downwardfupon'the switchbar 77 and closing a circuit through the solenoid 31, again acting to reverseathe direction of movement of the band.

For thepurpose of actuating a track switch automatically and without the inter vention of the operator and by means of the ligand, I provide ati'ackswitch indicated at m 93, this core having its the solenoids 9i and 94 respectively, Both of these solenoids are connected to a commonreturn Wire 95 whichextendsto the trolley of the wire 96 the trolley contact member means' of wire-98 to the trolley contact member 99. The perforations 38 and 38 and the fingers 40and 40* are for-the purpose-of that is, for the'pur pose of energizing one or theother of'the solenoids 9-1 or 94; comes beneath the completed through wire 58, through thelommon ,contact bar 39 to finger" 40,; thence by wire 100 through Fig. 6, whichis mounted'u'pon a core:

ends coacting with Whena. perforation 38' finger 40, aftciruit is the battery 59. by way of wire. The solenoid 94 is connectedby means re 1 ii neared ireagh the me 1 iiencl operated sw r 103, vhis swiich being normeliy in closerl pe s W hen, therefore, the circuit" is cmrpleteii through the magnet 101 to energize ehis magnet. ihe megnet Wili raw down upon the switch her thus causing sfll bar break circuit with Wire 32' time breaking the circuit-through rile S0l81Zf' (l 9-1 the circuit remei ng completed tin-ouch the SOlEIlOlCi'zl, thus causing the switch to shifi to the right in Fig. 8; if,

however, perforation 38 comes opposite the finger a circuit is completed from lhe battery 59 by We of wire 58, through the common contact oar 39,1lie finger 1G, thence Toy -wire 101 to the electro-inegnet 103, hence by Wire 1116 to the reiurn Wire 58. This will attract the switch oar forming the arinainre of the magnet 105 and break connection between the seie switch bar end the terminal of wire 35 and thus lie circuit will be broken through the solenoid 9 1 causing this solenoid to become deed While the other solenoid is active. it will be understood. of course, that when the trolley conflicts I 3 and 36 reach the contacts 99 and 9? which ere-elecirically connected to the trolley Wire, third rail or other source of power, a circuit will he znoinemzeiil com pleted through both of the solenoids unless a circuit through one or" the solenoids is broken the circuit is coinpleied through both of the solenoids, both wili equall energized and therefore the switch will not be shifled. 11; is by breaking the currentrough one of the solenoids and leaving ihe other solenoid energized that I secure shifting of ihe switc. The broad principle of this switch shifting mechanism is described and claimed in my pending applica-' No. 672,379, heretofore reiion. Serial ferred to.

The mechanism heretofore described and il ustrated in 1, and (3, is intended to he used with a nio'tor driven by an alternating current and in this caseit ECW155211? to provide means for mechanically reversing the direction of movement of the hand. 'hcrc, however, the motor can lJE reversed there is no necessity of using other means for reversing The movement of the hand. In are shown a system of wiring adapted to he used with a direct current and where the motor may he reversed by rerersin lire connections to the inoior. in this sis l1 desi' e'tes the band which of exactly the rin as the bend heretofore d provided v: in the perforations. The; passes over the reels (3 and T. The spindles of these reels harem-minted n ne ihern the ratchet Wheels 107 and 108. The ratchet Wheel 107 has its teeth rerersely placed to the wi l 1 fe Willi the ratchet usunitary movement Wheel and the reel 6 in one 'un freely in the other direction. The reel s provided with a pawl 110 which 911-1 es ratchet teeth on wheel 108 for m vemeni; in one direction but permits the reel to run freely upon a movemem of the ratchet Wheel in the other direction. The ratchet wheels 10? and 108 both carry sprocket wheels 111 over which passes a sprocket chain 112. This chain passes over a sprocket Wheel 113 carried upon a spindle 114. and mounted upon this same spindle is a toothed gear Wheel 115 engaged by a worm 116 formed upon a shaft 117 which is driven by the motor 118. Et-Will be seen reciion, the wheel 115 will be givene clockwise ino'xeineniand under these circumstances the reel 6 will be actuated Whi-ie the reel 7 will run free. Upon arotei-ion of the share 11. in a reverse direcfiion, the Wheel 1 will more rerersely and the reel 7 will be positively actuated and the reel 6 will run free. Thus the reel which constitutes the take-up reel will be positively actueted while the opposite reel Will run free, each reel (5 and 7 Becoming alternately the take-up reel.

The mechanism for reversing the movement of the bend includes the opposed solenoids 31 and 32 corresponding to the solenoids 31 and in Fig. 1. The core of these solenoids is operatively connected to the lever 21 which is pivoted at 2-5. The lever carries upon it the spaced contacts 119 and 120 which cooperate with the contacts 121 and when the lever in one position, and with the contacts and 124: when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 3. The Wires 125 and 126 leading from the binding posts to the motor are connected respeetix'el to the contacts 120 and 119. The wire carrying the positive current from the car wiring system is designated 122 and this wire ieads to the contact- 121 and by Way of wire 128 to the Contact 191. The Wire cerrying the negative current is designated 129 and leads to the contact 122 and to the con- 1 It will thus be seen that when the lever 21 is thrown to the left as in Fig. 3, the positive contact 23 on that side will be connected to the Wire 1% and the negative 1 will be connected to the wire vi hen, however, the lever is reversed from the position shown in Fig. 8, the conneciion or the motor to the positive and negative wires Wili be reversed; thus causing a reversal of the rotation of the motor. Otherwise than as above described, the construction of the apparatus will he precisely the same as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and unreal on the reel 6 6. Hence it is notflbelieved necessary to show the complete system of wiring as this is fully illustrated in Fig. (3 and has been described previously. I

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the trolley' wire 130 is connected .to the longitudinally extending contacts 97 and 99 and a trolley pole 131 carries a bracket 132 within which the contact rollers 36 and 36 are mounted. These contacts 99 and 97 are disposed at interva'ls along the line of the railroad and preferably at the intersection of streets or wherever a switch is to be shifted or the belt is to be reversed.

In Fig. 7 is shown a face'view of a por-.

tion of a band, this band being designed to contain the names of the streets passed by the car and also operating the several instrumentalities heretofore described. The band I as illustrated in Fig. 7 is designed to be used on a route such as that shown in the maplike view, Fig. 8. As-ill ustrated, this hand. is formed on one margin with theseveral perforations 38, 38, 38", 38, 38 and 38 shown -in Fig. 4. The perforations'38" and 38" are for reversing the travel of the band. The perforations-38" and 38 are for stopping the motor upon the travel of the belt upward or downward, and the perforations 3S and 38" are for actuating a switch either upon a movement of the band upward or downward. The action of the band may be best understood by reading Fig.7 in connection with Fig. 8. The beginning of the route is marked by the letter K and the car. is supposed to move in the direction of. the arrow. The. first street crossed after start ing is Broadway; the next street is Olive; the next Deal-born; the next Castle, and the next "all. After passing \Vall street, the 7 car passes onto a portion of the line where,

.the cars run both ways-on the same street until the cars reach Madison street. llere the outward bound cardiverges and passes around a loop crossing Madison, Market and \Vater streets. It then ag intersect? i the main line and passes along this main line to any desired extent, the car being shown as stopping beyond'Ra-ndolph street, Herethe belt is again reversed; the car travels back againin the direction of the arrows,

throwing a switch at Clark street and crossing Fulton and Humboldt streets, again. throwing the switch at Madison street and continuing past Spring, State anddVall streets throwing a switch at this latter point and moving to the right and passing Penn-j sylvania. avenue. River, street and King avenuc to its starting point. It will be noted --that the first street after Broadway for an outward bound car is Olive street, but'that the. space allotted to Olive street on the band A is not disposed immediately following the space allotted to Broadway but that the the cars run in both directions, inother,

words, at Wall street, then the intersecting streets follow in regular order until the-intersection of Madison streetis reached where the outward bound cars diverge, and here again the spaces allottedto streets on opposite sides of the loop alternate with each other until the loop or diverging track intersects themain track as it may be termed at Clark street afterwhich the spaces allotted to consecutive streets follow each other in (OllSGttltlYU order until \Vall street is reachcdwlicn the ca r passes to the right and -cros;ses 'lennsylvania avenue, River street,

King avenue and again reaches the starting point X. 'hen the car reaches the starting point X,one or the other of the reversing solenoids 31 or 32 in Fig. (y (31 or 32 in Fig. 3) is energized which shifts the transmission mechanism so as to put the transmission mechanism in position for a reverse travel of the band when the motoris actuated. N ow as the car nears Broadway, the contacts 99 and 97 which are disposed in connection with the trolley wire at that point will be engaged by contacts 36 and 36. 'lhrough wires or 37 current passes to the solenoid 49 which thencloses the motor cirs cuit as heretofore described and the motor is started, winding down the band so as to,

and the adver-' display thcname Broadway In other vgords,

tising connected therewith.

, the motor continues to run ui'i t-il the perm ration 38? reaches finger 40. Then the c1r-' cult is closed through magnet 56,w'hich releases'the latch 55, thus breaking the motor circuit. The band has now traveled one space and the word Broadway is displayed,

together with advertisements relating to merchants or other business. houses located in proximity to this streetcorner- Just before reacl1ing()live street which is the next' 7 consecutive street crossing, the contacts 36' and 36 will again engage withfcontacts 99 and 97, the circuit will be agaimiclosed through the solenoid 49. and the motor circuit will be again started and the motor will be operated to wind downtheb'and A for another predetermined distance. It will be noted, however, that the next perforation 38 occurs in the third space, thatis, the space 0 in Fig. 7 and not in the second space'o rgspace niapin Fig. S with the hand in Fig. l.

avenue is that King avenue is on he other side of the loop and is the twenty-fourth con%cutive streetcrossing and not the second consecutive street erossing. The same operation occurs or the space allotted for River street. The inoior continues to Whirl up the reel until snapped by the finge U coming in alinen' enlwith the perforalion 38 this oeeurs when the space allotted to Dearborn sf-"eet is presented at the opening in she 0215111 This is equally true the spaces allotted to Pennsylvania avenue and Castle stree z, butat i /all streei W iere the loop line joins What may he termed the main line. there a switch which has in be thrown. This switch is thrown by the finger i0 coining in contact wish the conlact bar 39 heretofore described through ihe perforation 238. The finger 40"- also comes in Contact with the contact bar 39 at this point but this has no ei ece inasmuch as the circuit from this finger lo the contact her 39 is broken in consequece of the position of the lever 24:. The switch is thrown as heretofore clescrihecl and the car passes onto the main line. Here the names of the streets on the banal A follow-each other in consecutive order as will be seen by a comparison of the This continues until Madison street is reached when the OlltYHlI'li hourul car ready to branch oil onio the loop whereupon the switch is rgain actuated. Here again as in thecasc of the loop in :neriy described. the names alternaio and again the band rolled up two spaces at a time instead of one. is continues until the car reaches Clark street when the switch is again acluateiil and "him car passes onto the main line. inst Bionroc azul Randolph sirccis to the terminus. Here the hand reversing ulcchanismis actuated by lhc linger 40 coming in contact with the bar through the perforation 38, and upon the return of the car thc hclt is wound up in a reverse direction lo the direction. in which it was previously wouucl. ll 'hen Clark street is reached, the switch is thrown and the car continues on the main line or street track aiul the hand moves 'Lwo name an each actuation in a manner l'ieretofore (lescrihed until Madison street is reached Where again the swiich is thrown. The car then consin ues liZS way to Hill street and here the switch isihrown clirecling the car to the right and the car travels past Pennsylvaniaavenue, River stress and King avenue to the starting point, the belt traveling two spaces for each acrualion as before clescribed for this portio of ihe line. i V

Iswill be obvious tha's the belt may be readily made to travel three spaces if neces sary or four, or any desired number for the reason that the bet is only stopped in its travel by the arrival of a nerforaiion opprr site the stopping finger 40 or H). The specimen band illustrated partially in Fig. 7 is of course on v a small. part of a full band and only shows the band as adapted to the case of a loop line and a straight line of track. As a matter of fact the hand. new be adapted lo practically any condition of travel. I

In Fig. 9 is shown another specimen hand which may he used where the iotai line of track is divided up into sections, certain of rho cars traveling to the enel of she first section. certain others to the end of the second section. and extreme end of the line and back again. It often occurs on lines of shis character that a car may for awhile run to the terminus of one of the sections and not along ie entire extent oi the route, while at other times this same car \vil travel along the whole route or the greater por'cion thereof.

It will he seen that in she hand A shown in Fig. 3. there are three sections or routes given following each other successively. Noiwithstaiuling the fact the: there are three routes placed upon the hand, the band will operate only upon the route on which it is set. Thus we will suppose that she band is set for the dispiaving of names on route '4. Then if she hand is traveling upward it rill continue so do so until the Contact perforaiiou 3S arrives beneath the finger e0 whereupon the hand will be reversed and will then continue to move downward until the perforation is reached whereupon certain others traveling to the circuirell by the swiich 103 this shifting of the switch at the same operation breaking the haitcry circuit i, wire 58. Under these circuiusiances the belt keeps on running until the couuuon tter-y circuitis again closed whereupon liteiirstperforation that comes along: stops the hell; and it is set ready for duty.

In the hand A illussrateel therein is not shown as provided with she perforations 35%" and 35 nor with the perforations 38 and 38 it is not ale i to confuse the drawing in this respec ll; to be understood that 'Wl'i ie preferably the heli- A. is formecl with perforations 38 etc.,'through which the contact fingers may spring into engagement with the contact bar 39, yet I do not wish to be limited to this as the belt might be formed with methrough these contact pieces andwto the common contact bar trated a portion of the belt nated 3 8 to distinguish them lfromjthe perdirt was rubbedofi by foi-ations. It will be seen that these contacts may bc'very readily fastened in place either by providing with prongswh-ich will enter the band or fasteningpthe. contact plates to the band in any'cther suitable manner as by rivets,brads", jetc;

Preferably the contact fin 'ers are tipped with platinum and preferably-each finger is split at its contactend'asshown' in'Fig L Thisgives a much better. and more positive 7 contact than if the finger is solid at the contact end. Thuslet a little speck of dirt get on oneof the fingers, for instance, and the mechanism might skip one street before the the movingbelt, but by splitting thefinger this is overcome as one or the other of. the split fingerwill always makecontact.

It will be seen that my apparatusis relatively simple and that it enables a street' name displaying band to be used which can withequal facility be applied. either on a line, diverse route or relatively short sections. is obvious'that the mechanism can be used eitheron a trolley system, third-rail system,

or on any system where the power is taken from a conductor extending parallel to the track of a car. The difiiculty of apparatus of the kind heretofore produced has'been either that it was purely mechanical in i a action and that the lost motion incident to Y practically all mechanical structures preet vented the propercoiirdination names with the proper streets, depended for its 0 eration human element, urthermore, these con..

structions have been very complicated. My

improved mechanism is absolutely autoinatic throughout and yet is very simple in construction, operation and maintenance. It is not necessary to havea single space more on the hand than there .are actual streets to be crossed. The band is selfreversing, and by means of this band each car picks and throws its own switches autoinatically.

being displayed when his I is reached. Attention is also called to the fact that by my construction there is no need of having a single wire or advertiser 39. In Fig. 12,1 have illusprovided with. f these-contacts,- these contacts being desig- This permits the anotheror from onereverse.

terminal. ends of the of the street orthat it too much on the The band may be'used for ad-v. vertising matter,the name of each dealerwould be secured leading out of the case within which the indicator is mounted. There are-seven contact plates tin'ithe bottom of the case, two

adapted to be connected to thebattery ciithe car circuit and' two to the cuit, two to trolley circuit when the case is-slipped in place and one to ground, The outer case box into which the inner case isslipped' every contact is made instantly.

immediate exchange of one case Witlrits band from' one car to- 5 end of the car to the other. These contact plates'are lettered D in the drawings. I I

One vital point ofmy. invention lies in putting circuit closing-means Ornsthe band for several purposes and makin control the stopping-and starting of the motor. Another vital element is the rethe band versing'lever which cuts'in one set of contacts and .cuts out the otherset of contacts,

thus making the-one set 0f perforations-in the band active and one set negative or the It is this reversing lever that makes this form of'inachine possible and makes it possibletooperate abelt showing loop lines in the manner heretofore described. It is also this lever vthat'makes it,

possible to use this mechanism on third rails, under-ground conduits, etc. In cases where there is a third rail or underground conduit in which the shoe' stays always on the same side of thetrack, two sets of contacts would be applied to the ltli'irdra il with a corresponding set.

of two contacts 01:

four contacts to provide for SWltCh lillIOW-K ing) carried by the car with the same. These two sets of contacts carried by wires one leading to one side of the revers ing lever and the other'setxto theother side of the lever, thus when thedeveris thrown in one" direction onesetof contacts onthe for making contact the car would have two sets of;

third rail would be active when in use, the

other set being inactiveand vice versa, according to the direction inwhich the car was going.

The third important feature of my invem tioii" liesin the use of alternate spaces on the band for successive streets: where the car is,

traveling over a loop and using the other alternate set of spaces after the band rc-v verses and travels in the opposite direction.

While I have showir perforations in the band for the purpose of closing a circuit between the fingers I want it distinctly understood that it would be equally feasible and is entirely within the purview of my invention to provide metallic contact members disposed in the space occupied by the perforations and exactly the same result as faras closing a circuit through the fingers is concerned. Again I do not Wish to be limited to the exact form of trolley contact mcn'ibers illustrated, this trolley contact member might have the form shown in Fig. 11, in which 13.3 designates the trolley wire and 136 a guy-wire. Suspended from this guy-wire are hanging contact members 137 with which the auxiliary contacts on the trolley pole engage as the car passes a predetermined point.

Vv'hat I claim is:

1. In a mechanism of the character described, a sign displaying band, reels supporting the band, an electric motor, means for act dating said reels through the motor to thereby cause the band to travel, a contact member confronting one face of the band, a pair of contact members confronting the other face oi the band and coacting with the first named contact member, means connected in circuit with said contact members for breaking the motor circuit when the circuit is completed by the electrical engagement of either one of the pair of contact members with the first named contact member, said band being divided into a plurality of spaces, each of said spaces having thereon the name of a street, the names of consecutive streets being separated from each other by an intermediate space, the band being provided with means opposite each of the first named spaces whereby a circuit may be closed between one of the contact members of a pair and the first named contact to thereby stop the motor upon the travel of the band in one direction and the band being provided in conjunction with the alternate spaces with means whereby a circuit may be closed between the other of the pair of contact members and the first named contact member to thereby intermittently break the motor circuit upon a moven'icnt of the band in a direction opposite to its first movement,

Tn a mechanism of the character described, a sign displaying band, reels over which the band is wound, an electric motor operativcly connected to the reels and connected in an interrupted circuit to a source of electric energy, means operated at predetermined intervals to close the motor circuit to thereby cause the actuation of the motor, means for holding the circuit closed to thereby cause the continued reeling up of the band. a pair of contacts disposed on one side of the band and laterally spaced from each other, a contact member disposed on the opposilo side oi the band and coacting with the first mentioned contacts, a battery, separate electrically actuated means for releasing said holding means each connected in circuit with the battery and with a corresponding one of the first mentioned con tacts, the band being provided with means disposed at predetermined intervals for electrically closing the gap between one of the first mentioned contacts and the contact member, means disposed alternately to t s last named means for electrically closing the gap between the other first mentioned con tact and the contact member, means for To rersing the direction of travel of the band,

and means for breaking the circuit beta 1.- one of the first mentioned contacts and corresponding electrically actuated means and establishing a circuit between the 0th first mentioned contact and its electrics actuated means upon a movement of the, band in one direction or breaking the las named circuit 'nd establishing the Iii named circuit upon a movement of the bond in the opposite direction.

8. In a mechanism of the character scribed, a sign displaying band hat thereon a series of street names, certain names indicating streets on one portion oi. a loop route, certain of the names indicating streets on a straight route continuing from the loop, certain other names indicating streets on the other portion of the loop, that portion of the band containing names of streets on the loop route having the names relating to the two portions of the loop in alternate relation to each other, that portion of the band relating to the straight portion of the route having the names of the streets arranged in consecutive order, means for in-. termittently shifting the band a distance equal to two name spaces while the vehicle is traveling over the loop portion of the route, means for shifting the band intermittently a distance equal to one name space during the travel of the vehicle over the straight portion of the route, and means for reversing the direction of movement of the band at the termini of the route.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a sign displaying band, an electric motor for moving the band located in circuit with a'source of energy, a normally open switch for closing said circuit, a solenoid operatively engaging said switch and when energized acting to close the switch, means urging the switch to open position, means whereby the solenoid may be m0- mentarily-energized, a latch adapted to hold the switch closed, a pair of electro-magnets coacting with the latch, either of said magnetswhen energized releasing it, a local battery, contact members, each connected in an open circuit with the battery and a corresponding one of the electro-magnets, a contact common to the first mentioned contacts and between which and the said first mentioned contact members the band passes, means disposed at predetermined intervals along the band permitting the gap between the first and second mentioned contact members to be closed to thereby energize one or the other of the correspondlplg electro-magnets and release said switc tb break the 1315 motor circuit, means for causing a reversal of the movement of said band when the band has reached the end of its travel in either direction, said means including a shiftable member adapted to break the circuit through one of said electro-magnets and corresponding contacts and close the circuit between the other electro-magnet and its correspond ing contacts when in one position or close the circuit through the first named magnet and break the circuit through the second named magnet in its other position.

5. In a mechanism of the ch'aracterdescribed, a sign-displaying band, an electric motor for moving the band located in circuit with a source of energy, 'a normally open switch for closing said. ,circuit, a solenoid operatively engagingsaid switch and when energized acting to close the switch, means urging the switch to open position, means whereby the solenoid may be momentarily energized, a latch adapted to hold the switch closed, a pair of electro-magnets coacting with the latch, either of said magnets when energized, releasing it, a local battery, contact members, each connected in anopen circuit with the battery and a corresponding one of the electromagnets, a contact common to the first mentioned'contacts and'between which andthe said first mentioned contact members the band passes,

meansdispcsed at predetermined intervals along the band permitting the gap between the first and second mentioned contact members to be closed to thereby energize one or the other of the corresponding electromagnets and release said switch to break the motor circuit, a pair of solenoids, a core coacting therewith, means for energizing one of said solenoids and deiinergizing the other solenoid when the band has reached the extremity of its movement in one direction, a lever shiftable with the core, means "connected to the lever for reversing the travel of the band upon a shifting of the lever in one or the othe direction, and means connected to said lever adapted to complete said circuit through one of said electroinagnets and its corresponding contact men'ibers when the lever is thrown in one direction and through the other of said electromagnets and its corresponding contact members when the lever is thrown in the other direction.

6. In a mechanism of the characte' described, a signwlisplaying band, an electric motor for moving the band, connected in circuit with a source of energ a normally open switch for closing said circuit, a solenoidv opcratively engaging said switch and when energize acting to close the switch, means urging the switch to open position, means whereby the solenoid may be momentarily energized, a latch adapted to hold the switch closed, a pair of electro magnets coacting with the latch, either said magnets when energized releasing it, 'a local battery, contact members each connected in an open circuit with the battery and a corresponding one of the electromagnets, a contact common to the first mentioned contacts and between which and the said first mentioned contact members the band passes, means disposed at predetermined intervals along the band permitting the gap between,

said contact members to be closed to thereby energize one or the other of the correspondmg electromagnetsand release said switch to break the moto circuit, electrically actuated means .for causing a reversal of the travel of theyband when the band has reached the limit of its travel in either direction, said means including a shiftable member, and means carried by saidshiftable member forrendering one of said magnets inoperative and rendering the other magnet operative upon a movement of said member in either direction.

7. T he, combination with an electric power conductor and'with a plurality of contact members connected tosaid conductor at intervals to receive electricity therefrom, of

indicator mechanism including a contact member adapted to engage with the firstnamed contact members, a sign displaying band, an electric motor in-open circuit with said conductor and arranged to 'move the band, means in circuit with the secdnd mentioned contact and adapted to close the circu'it through the motor when the said contact engages the first-named contact, means for holding the circuit closed to thereby cause the continued movement of the hand,

means for rendering one of said pairs of 'contact:: inoperative and the other operative when the band is reversed. v v

6. In a. mechanism of the character described, a sign displaying band, an electric motor for moving the/band connected in an interrupted circuit with a source of; energy, a normally open switch for closing'said circuit, a solenoid opel'atively engaging said switch and when energizedacting'to'close the switch, means urging the switch to open' position,--m eans whereby the solenoid he momentarily energized, a' latch adapted to hold the switch closed, electr c-magnets coactmg with the latcli'and when energizedreleasing it, aloal battery, contact members, each connected in an interrupted cirunit with said battery and one of the magnets, :1 contact common to the first mentioned contacts, the bandpassing between the first and last mentioned contacts, said hand having sets of means disposed at spaced intervals, one set of means enacting with one of the first mentioned contacts and the common Contact and the other with the otherfirst mentioned Contact and the com- 1 5 of the first mentioned contacts operative and time, or causing said other one of the first 20 mentioned contacts to be operative and the other one inoperative while the band is traveling in the reverse direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

monann M. CRAIG. 1, a 'Witness'es:

Josnrn SHONE, GORDON Hmrmrs SHINEB. 

